⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Written by the journalist son of Detective Tom Jensen, this graphic novelization of the Green River Killer case, and his father‘s part, is a bit of an odd endeavor, but thoughtfully created. Out of print, purchase second-hand, and well worth the $30. This completed my brief deep dive into this case (enneagram 5 #iykyk). Fuck you, Gary Ridgway.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Holly Jackson is so good at creating fiction that reads like true crime. Rachel Price went missing years ago. Now her family, desperate for money, is participating in a documentary about her disappearance. Suddenly, as the title implies, she reappears. Now her daughter Bel is trying to piece together what happened. A bit of a wild ride, but so much more than your average thriller. I couldn‘t stop listening!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cry-cry-crying. I read this on the recommendation of both of my boys. Super cute and clever, but so dang sad.

#dogsoflitsy #raisingreaders

My boy loved our greenway walk this morning! We usually walk in our neighborhood, so he digs a little change of pace.

#audiowalk #dogsoflitsy

Grabbing a few chapters at soccer practice. This book is a hot mess.

Started a new book during my boys‘ soccer training. It‘s a chilly, windy day, but the park is beautiful!

#audiowalk

⭐️⭐️ Phone conversations between Gypsy-Rose and journalist Melissa Moore, whose father, weirdly enough, is a serial killer (I will obvs be going down that rabbit hole soon). Anyway, this was the worst quality ebook I‘ve ever read. I bet, in total, about 20 pages wouldn‘t load. I just kept going as I got the gist. Still annoying. Looking forward to Gypsy‘s actual memoir which she mentions here, but I can‘t find a pub date yet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An intimate portrait of RuPaul‘s life, but I wanted a higher page count! It‘s not his first book, so maybe I‘ll check the backlist. Regardless, Ru shares his story how he pleases, and I respect that. It‘s thoughtful, raw, honest, and undeniably entertaining. Perfect cover; fabulous narration.

11 year old: Mom, come here. Is this grammatically correct?

Me: Oh yeah, that‘s the past tense of shit.

11 year old: *dies laughing*

#raisingreaders

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Quirky in the same way real life tends to be. Enid is deaf in one ear, has an unusual phobia, and an obsession with true crime pods. The title will make sense once you get rolling. Often funny and ultimately hopeful. A fab spin on family drama, too. I loved it so much!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I borrowed this after hearing Dunlop speak on Sounds Like a Cult Podcast. This novel, with a Munchausen by Proxy side story, follows Katie, a former competitive skier, who escapes her tumultuous public life for an interlude in Buenos Aires. She bonds with others also seeking escape. Based on the author‘s sister who committed medical child abuse, and tried to keep the book from publication. A solid read!

My neighborhood is so pretty right now! 👟

#audiowalk #bookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️ How could this possibly go wrong? Blaming a trusted book friend for this one. 😂 Memoir is one of my favorite genres because learning about others‘ lives is fascinating and helps us better understand other humans. This was quite out of my wheelhouse, but I don‘t regret it. I did, however, want more on how this arrangement affected the children. Beyond cringy at times, but I‘m trying very hard not to judge. It‘s difficult.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ St. James is a creepy ghost story master, but this backstory bothered me: recurring mention of Eddie fighting in Iraq. This takes place in 1995! And it‘s clearly not referencing the Gulf War. And all actual 90s references felt forced. It should‘ve just been set more recently. These details were so distracting as Eddie and April worked the mystery of the “Lost Girl.” Overall, pretty mid for one of my most anticipated books of 2024. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My first Freida McFadden. It‘s possible I have a new go-to palate-cleansing author. Skeevy characters enveloped in a disturbing, deceitful, and oddly funny story. Intentionally vague opening scene keeps you guessing. Pure brain candy.

Walt Disney World rest day. Reading on our resort‘s beach. Totally alone.

I‘m so sad. Our local B&N just announced it‘s closing April 2 due to the landlord not renewing their lease. Instead, it will become a gym. Word is, B&N is actively looking for a new location. We‘ll see.

#bookhaul #cults

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reichert worked for over twenty years to solve the Green River Killer case. This is his firsthand recounting of the grueling hours, days, years he chased leads, logged evidence, and ultimately got that asshole Gary Ridgway.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Making a point to read more Ann Rule. This, her 23rd book, covers the Green River Killer, one of America‘s most prolific murderers. For 20 years, authorities diligently pieced together evidence until technological advances in DNA profiling came into existence. Rule does something I really appreciate here. She tells us about many of the victims; their lives, not just their horrific deaths. This, of course, led me down a GRK rabbit hole.

Book pillow. School pick up line snooze time.

#BOTM #dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nothing makes me happier than a witty rendition of all the dumb shit humans do. This is quite the exploration of modern American depths and shallows. College sweethearts Jack and Elizabeth hit multiple bumps at 20 years married, and try to navigate careers, parenthood, and their relationship in a variety of ways. You‘re going to find something relatable. A brilliant satire on contemporary life!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leslie Fucking Jones doesn‘t read straight from the print book, but rather uses it as an outline for the audio production. A 300-page memoir does not need to span a very frenetic 17 hours on audio. And I have a pretty foul mouth but, holy shit. These stories get lost in an absolute tsunami of swear words. I have to think the print version is better edited. The best parts were when she cracked up at her own expense. She has the best laugh!

Love this #dedication 🤍

Hell yes! I love when #BOTM arrives quickly. Starting the St James immediately!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Short stories with one commonality: someone who left Kentucky but yearns to return. Tonally, these stories complement each other very well. He created down-and-out characters in fascinating, often endearing ways. I‘m drawn to Offutt, because I, too was born and raised in the Bluegrass State and love the references. Definitely seeking out his backlist. He attended the illustrious Iowa Writers‘ Workshop, so that‘s an automatic plus for me!

⭐️ Not at all a fan of this locked-room mystery‘s narrative style. The story gives strong Agatha Christie vibes, which is cool, but Michaelides‘s writing is so basic. It‘s astoundingly awful. A lot of short, clipped sentences that read nearly like stage directions. I enjoyed The Silent Patient, disliked The Maidens, and detested this. Never reading this dude again.

#BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Filterworld *is* our world. This comprehensive analysis of life after analog takes a minute to get going, but is ultimately an interesting read. Personal passions have been replaced by monetization. It‘s consistently harder to be unique. That‘s just a small glimpse, but you get the idea. Recommend to people who are reading my book reviews on social media. 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Randomly snagged this in an Audible sale a few months ago. I‘d never heard of the I-5 Killer, but damn, this guy was a total lunatic. How he was ultimately detained in the time before DNA testing was a thing is pretty incredible. Ann Rule is the true crime queen. I need to read more of her.

⭐️⭐️ The gentrification storyline and social commentary were thoughtful and realistic. I wanted more of that. The thriller / mystery felt unnecessary, the romance was forced, and the steam was totally cringy, and quite honestly, out of place. #bookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Reread of my top book from 2023, but this time on audio.

OG review: An exposition of the US prison system, capital punishment, and reality tv, where prisoners compete in colosseum-like death matches. They are commodified, sexualized and idolized. Survive three years and you‘ll be freed, they‘re told, as they serve the community through torturous entertainment. Brilliant, impactful, factual footnotes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Toole‘s Pulitzer-winning comic opus, A Confederacy of Dunces, is one of my most favorite novels. Sadly, his life ended at age 31. The Neon Bible, published posthumously, was written when he was just 16 for a contest. It‘s a teen boy‘s stream-of-consciousness #bildungsroman. David‘s a bit of a lost soul whose family is going through 1930s tough times. Oddly funny yet profoundly sad. It‘s no Dunces, obvs, but it‘s a solid read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Finally, my first Toni Morrison. I know, I‘m ashamed that it took this long, too. Formerly enslaved woman Sethe is haunted by a malevolent ghost believed to be her eldest daughter. Morrison uses elements of magical realism combined with lyrical prose to tell this story inspired by the true life of Kentucky slave Margaret Garner. So powerful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This follows Land‘s struggles after escaping her abusive ex, moving with her young daughter to Missoula, Montana for a fresh start. I can‘t imagine sharing parenting duties in this situation. So much empathy. Still, I have mixed feelings on this follow up to Maid which itself was quite poignant and eye-opening. It‘s hard not to judge Land‘s personal life decisions, but no one‘s perfect, and I appreciate her honesty. Truly cringy at times.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yes, an entire book about … frozen water. Medical uses, ice cream, popsicles, cocktails, sports surfaces, manufacturing advances, and even its role in the advent of the modern convenience store. Don‘t take ice for granted, y‘all. It‘s a much bigger part of everyday life, and history, than you realize. Fascinating read!

When you crack open a used book and discover it‘s signed by the author! 🤍✒️✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m not sure the Wildflower Duet needed an update, but here we are with Wildflower 2.5, a novella. Set around the holidays, Salem and Thayer are trying to add to their family, but it‘s a very stressful time. Can‘t say I‘m in a hurry to read Smeltzer again soon, but these books were a bit of a departure from my norm and entertaining enough.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ When Coulter had her introvert epiphany, I totally related. Same thing happened to me at about 30 years old and it was honestly life changing. Here, Coulter exposes her 10+ years at Amazon, starting in the early days, and quickly climbing. I appreciate the insight, and inside info, but this was just okay.

It‘s been a while since I‘ve had time to enjoy a puzzle. I‘ve missed it! 🎧🧩 #audiopuzzling

“When I first saw her, she had all these rags tied around her dress and all these accessories.”

📷 Tiny me trying to mimic Madonna‘s style.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When I say this biography is thorough, I‘m serious. Nearly 900 pages, or 42 hours on audio. Humble beginnings, fame, fashion, family, philanthropy. What a life! This sparked vivid memories of swinging on my T-Gym (remember those?) singing every word to “Like a Prayer.” I‘d worked so hard to memorize the lyrics. I was 8. I want to thank my parents for inadvertently not censoring me from Madonna. I loved her growing up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When I say this biography is thorough, I‘m serious. Nearly 900 pages, or 42 hours on audio. Humble beginnings, fame, fashion, family, philanthropy. What a life! This sparked vivid memories of swinging on my T-Gym (remember those?) singing every word to “Like a Prayer.” I‘d worked so hard to memorize the lyrics. I was 8. I want to thank my parents for inadvertently not censoring me from Madonna. I loved her growing up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Patchett‘s writing is so smooth and lovely, but this story didn‘t do it for me. Though I‘m generally over pandemic novels, I would‘ve preferred more of the Covid isolation story than reminiscing on mom‘s very brief acting past. I get what Patchett was doing, I just didn‘t like the story. I couldn‘t give a damn about Peter Drake. Our Town holds no significance for me. A whole novel about this? Oof. I didn‘t love Streep‘s narration either.

⭐️⭐️ Ugh. I don‘t know why I keep reading thrillers. There‘s never enough character development. Minus that blanket statement, this story wasn‘t even gripping. People very close to Emma were murdered but she showed zero emotion. No one did. So why should I care what happened?

Car rider line. Always prepared.

Off to a solid start!

My ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads:

- The Running Grave
- Romney, A Reckoning
- Migrations

#januaryreads #januarywrapup

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ve been dipping in and out of this collection of slice-of-life short stories all month. It was honestly slow going, but I loved a few. The real standouts are “Li Fan,”cleverly told in reverse, and “Persona Development” which toys with monitoring the elderly as we do infants. Chang writes thoughtful stories, but some didn‘t quite hold my attention. Narrowly a pick. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A nice departure from the over-saturated market of domestic thrillers. Fast-paced is a plus, but combined with a nonlinear timeline and several aliases, and it was a little confusing at times. Not a problem, just an observation. Entertaining enough, but didn‘t live up to the hype for me. Over the top, but perhaps the most unbelievable part was the love story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Set in a near future with rapid animal extinction, Franny casts off with a commercial fishing crew to follow a specific bird on likely its last migration. Where there are fish, there are birds, and vice versa. For a bit, this felt like two stories slapped together until we are fully aware of the circumstances. Such a gut punch. One of the absolute best, most emotional, endings I‘ve experienced in some time. #bookclub

⭐️⭐️ After reading, and appreciating, Crystal Hefner‘s new memoir, I decided to grab Holly Madison‘s second one. I read her memoir Down the Rabbit Hole a few years ago and enjoyed, but this was pretty abysmal. Dating fail after dating fail was boring and very surface level. Know when to lower your expectations, I guess. 😂

It‘s taking me forever to get through this collection. Grabbing a story or two while my 11 year old works on his Lego typewriter. A wild Friday night! 🙂